Tom 61 (2012): Zeszyt 2 (December 2012)

A synopsis of the fauna of seven families of Opomyzoidea (Diptera) in the Gemer area (Slovakia) is given. Clusiidae (8 species), Acartophthalmidae (2 species), Anthomyzidae (9 species), Opomyzidae (8 species), Stenomicridae (1 species), Periscelididae (1 species) and Asteiidae (5 species) are treated on the basis of previously published records and material examined. Each species is listed with comments about its general distribution, biology and faunistic and/or nature conservation importance. Podocera soniae (Merz & Roháček, 2005) (Stenomicridae) is the most interesting species because it was originally partly described from specimens (paratypes) discovered in the area. Other significant faunal elements include Clusia tigrina (Fallén, 1820), Clusiodescaledonicus (Collin, 1912), Hendelia beckeri Czerny, 1903, (Clusiidae) and Leiomyza curvinervis (Zetterstedt, 1838) (Asteiidae), all endangered or vulnerable species associated with well-preserved forests, and Anthomyza neglecta Collin, 1944, A. paraneglecta Elberg, 1968 (Anthomyzidae), Geomyza apicalis (Meigen, 1830), G. hackmani Nartshuk, 1984, vulnerable species of wetland and grassland habitats.

The article compares historical and recent records of epiphytic bryophytes from the Orthotrichaceae family in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. Field survey was carried out between 2005 and 2009. In total, 128 localities were visited. Altogether, 9 species from the Orthotrichum genus, 1 from the Nyholmiella genus, and 2 from the Ulota genus were recently recorded. The following was used for data comparison: records coming from the bryological database of the second author, herbarium specimens (mainly from OP, SUM and private collections), and available historical literature sources.

Mechanisms of sex determination in plants are popular research topic. Research studies are initiated to describe sex determination mechanisms and develop molecular methods for sex differentiation in plant species where sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed or absent at the early stages of development. This study presents different mechanisms of sex determination in plants, identifies unexplored areas and discusses problems which limit our knowledge of the subject.

A review of the fauna of four acalyptrate families (Diptera) in the Gemer area (Slovakia) is presented. Based on previously published records and material examined 1 species of Pseudopomyzidae, 10 species of Micropezidae, 1 species of Megamerinidae and 18 species of Psilidae are listed, each with comments about general distribution, biology, faunistic and/or nature conservation importance. Pseudopomyza atrimana (Meigen, 1830) (Pseudopomyzidae), Cnodacophorastylifera (Loew, 1870), Neria longiceps (Loew, 1870), Rainieria calceata (Fallén, 1820) (Micropezidae), Megamerina dolium (Fabricius, 1805) (Megamerinidae) and Chamaepsila strigata (Collin, 1959) (Psilidae) are the most significant species in the area belonging to rare taxa distinctly jeopardized due to association with (in Central Europe) endangered habitats. Chamaepsila strigata, a new species for the fauna of Slovakia, is recorded for the first time since its description from Montenegro. The first record from Austria and second record from Slovakia of Cnodacophorastylifera are given. New data about habitat association of these rare species are presented.

A total of 131 species of Sciaridae are recorded from the Gemer region in central Slovakia. The material was obtained in the years 2008-2012 by means of Malaise traps and by individual collecting by the junior author. Fifty-one species are recorded as new to Slovakia including 4 undescribed species, which will be treated in separate publications

Homalocephala albitarsis Zetterstedt, 1838 (Ulidiidae) is added to the fauna of the Czech Republic based on record from the Frýdlant area in N. Bohemia. It is the second species of the genus Homalocephala Zetterstedt, 1837 reported from the Czech Republic. The distribution and biology of H. albitarsis are reviewed. The new record is given with illustrated habitat data, and its significance discussed.

New records of Ditomyiidae, Keroplatidae and Mycetophilidae (Diptera) are presented from Muránska planina National Park in the Gemer region in Central Slovakia. The material was obtained mainly in the years 2011-2012 by means of Malaise traps and by individual collecting by the authors. Six species, Macrorrhyncha rostrata (Zetterstedt, 1851), Greenomyia stackelbergi Zaitzev, 1982, Dynatosoma nigripes Ševčík & Papp, 2001, Sceptonia hamata Ševčík, 2004, Anatellaflavomaculata Edwards, 1925, and Anatella stimulea Plassmann, 1977 are recorded from Slovakia for the first time. The species Synplasta terezae Ševčík, 2009, recently described from the Gemer region, is recorded as new to Hungary.